CHENEY, Wash. -- The Eastern Washington University women's tennis team fell 6-1 to the University of Idaho today, March 8. This makes the Eagles 1-2 in the Big Sky Conference as Idaho continues to be in first place in the conference standings.

"it was a good close match all the way through," head coach Dustin Hinson said. "We can take some real positives from our tactics and fighting efforts tonight. We did not come out on top like we wanted to in the results but we are using that to moivate us for Saturday against Portland State. Fantastic win for Faye at No. 2 singles and excellent close battles at 3 and 4 for Erin and Rachel, respectively."

Sophomore Faye Worrall collected the lone win against the Vandals in the No. 2 singles spot, making her undefeated in the conference at 3-0. She defeated her opponent Jessica Brzozowska in a close battle. In the first set, she won 7-6 after winning the tiebreaker 8-6. In the second set, she won 6-3.

Junior Janaya Smith had her first dual single match of the spring season in the No. 1 spot. She lost to her opponent Marianna Petrei 6-2, 6-0.

Both senior Erin Blessing and junior Rachel Swindell had close battles in the No. 3 and 4 spot, losing in three sets. Blessing lost to Lucia Badillos by scores of 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. Swindell fell to Maria Tavares 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

In the No. 5 singles spot, senior Carolina Lopez lost 6-1, 6-2 against Ana Batiri. Finishing off singles was freshman Marta Heinen, who fell to Claire Yang 6-3, 6-4.

On the doubles side of the match, Worrall and Smith teamed up for the No. 1 spot but it only went to 5-4, with the match favoring Idaho. In the No. 2 spot, Swindell and Blessing teamed up and fell 6-2. Senior Katrina Domingo and freshman Valentina Sottile finished off the doubles in the No. 3 spot, losing 6-1.

The Eagles will continue Big Sky competition this Saturday, March 11 at Portland State. Matches will begin at Noon.


Idaho 6, Eastern Washington 1

Singles competition
1. Petrei, Marianna (UI) def. SMITH, Janaya (EWU) 6-2, 6-0
2. WORRALL, Faye (EWU) def. Brzozowska, Jessica (UI) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
3. Badillos, Lucia (UI) def. BLESSING, Erin (EWU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
4. Tavares, Maria (UI) def. SWINDELL, Rachel (EWU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
5. Batiri, Ana (UI) def. LOPEZ, Carolina (EWU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Yang, Claire (UI) def. HEINEN, Marta (EWU) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Petrei, Marianna/Badillos, Lucia (UI) def. SMITH, Janaya/WORRALL, Faye (EWU) 5-4
2. Tavares, Maria/Batiri, Ana (UI) def. SWINDELL, Rachel/BLESSING, Erin (EWU) 6-2
3. Brzozowska, Jessica/Yang, Claire (UI) def. DOMINGO, Katrina/SOTTILE, Valentina (EWU) 6-1